Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Happiness all around :)

You are all the bomb! I can't tell you enough how much I love all of your stinkin' guts!

This week has been a trying one, but overall a HUGE blessing in my life. I have learned so many things it's just insane really.

Oh ya guess what- no more nylons for us sisters- this is definitely heaven sent if you're a girl and you know how hot those things can be.

Sister Conrow and Sister LooYea!! No more Nylons ... LOL!

First off- yesterday for Monday morning sports- our whole zone got together, set up the gym as an obstacle course, and had the most AMAZING marshmallow war ever. It was super intense, and way fun! It's so cool to get together as Elders and Sisters and chuck these massive marshmallows at each other. It definitely releases some of the stresses and tensions we feel as missionaries. No worries, none were harmed in the making of this event. However, my companion and I suffered a loss- our precious phone. Ha ha. Oh well, all is well in Zion.

Next off- 2 neat experiences that I had with I guess you could say, the gift of tongues- Ha ha. So this huge Spanish tour came into the VC and all of our Spanish speaking sisters were not on shift. Well, they had just finished watching the Joseph Smith movie in Spanish and we really wanted to bear our testimonies to them. Well for some reason I remembered how Dan Garcia had taught me how to bear my testimony in Spanish, and even though it was 9 months ago that I had learned it, somehow the words came back into my mind and I was able to go down to that tour and bear my testimony to them in Spanish. It was so nerve wracking, but truly amazing. The Lord is just too good to me.My next experience was with this big family of 10 that came in. Their oldest boy and their youngest boy were both deaf. They were just the cutest family ever and as we went through this tour of God's Plan for His Family, I wanted to be able to ask the boys their thoughts and feelings of the tour. Well, once again, the spirit brought back to my remembrance signs I had learned clear back in high school. I was able to talk to them through sign language and get to know them a little better. It was just such a powerful testimony builder for me. I remembered that scripture in Moroni 10:5 that says, "and by the power of the spirit you may know all things." Something like that, needless to say, the Lord loves me lots, and loves all his children.

OK- wow, I have been learning so so much so I'll try to type this up as fast as I can. The biggest thing I have learned this week is to trust in the Lord 1000%. He can see what we cannot. Even though we may think we know what we want, He knows exactly what we need. Exactly. I am so grateful for that, that He protects me from getting what I want, and in turn gives me what I need. We would certainly get ourselves into a whole heap of trouble if he always allowed us to have what we wanted. We would most likely be miserable with our choices. The Lord loves us, and he protects His own. He has protected me from so many things that I thought I wanted, and showed me that I really didn't want those things, because they weren't what I, Sister Conrow, needed for the future. I am reminded of that talk Elder Uchtdorf gave that talks about the study of where he gave the children a marshmallow and how if they waited for just 15 minutes without eating the first one, they could have 2 marshmallows. If we will but be patient, the Lord will give us all things we desire and all things He sees fit for our needs. Be patient with Heavenly Father everyone, He loves you like crazy. If you think you want this piece of chocolate cake right now, just wait, and he'll give you a lifetime supply of chocolate cake, AND ice cream. Way better. Ha ha.

Anyways, something else I have been thinking a lot about this week is the story of Jacob Haun. Jacob Haun owned Haun's Mill where the mobs were coming to attack the Saints. He knew this was going to happen, but "wanted the Prophet Joseph Smith's advice." So he went to the Prophet, told him of the situation and how he just thought it would be OK to move the saints to the center of town. Well the Prophet said, no you get those saints out of there or they'll be killed. Well that's not what Jacob Haun wanted to hear. So he went back to Haun's mill, twisted the words of the Prophet, and told the saints that the Prophet said that it was OK if they stayed as long as they just moved to the center of the town when the mobs came. Alas, the mobs came and many were killed. Joseph Smith said how he knew that Jacob Haun didn't really want his advice, he just wanted the Prophet's approval for something he didn't really want to change. What an arrogant man Jacob was, and in his arrogance, he had many saints killed. I also think about how when Jacob was relaying to the saints what the "prophet had said," I don't doubt for a second that the spirit was whispering to the hearts of those saints telling them that what he was saying wasn't true, that they needed to get out of there as soon as possible. We learn from this story how vital it is for us to rely on the promptings of the spirit and to put our trust, once again, in the Lord and not in the arm of flesh. I just love this story, it teaches me so so much about how we should always follow the counsel of our prophets, for they know all things that are for our good.

Man, I could go on and on about the things I've learned. I was reading in Alma the other day and it was talking about how the Anti-Nephi-Lehie's buried their weapons of war so that their testimonies could burn bright. What are we doing to bury our weapons of war against the Lord? We need to stand strong, and put on the armor of God so that we can be protected from all things that Satan puts in our way. The Power of the Lord will be with you and you submit fully your will to His in all things, not just some things, but in ALL THINGS.

A mission sure changes desires, let me tell you that. I have come to know that this mission is the BEST thing I could ever be doing with my life. All of the cares and concerns at home will be swept and washed away as I FOCUS on the spirit and what the Lord needs me to do as his servant.

I love all of you so much. Dan Garcia- congrats on the engagement- I am just so super happy for you. Jess you're having a baby boy! AHHHH I can't wait to see pictures of this little cutie come December. Eric and Megan- I couldn't be happier for the both of you, you guys will make such a powerful team in your marriage- thanks for sending me the invite. I absolutely adore it.

Everyone know that I am doing so so so well amidst all the changes and challenges I have come to, the Lord has certainly been protecting me. I love this Gospel, I love my mission and I love my family more than life itself. This IS His true Gospel restored to the Earth in this dispensation. Trust in the Lord, and lean not unto thine own understanding, and you will be blessed, believe me. I am a living testimony to that. Love you guys!

Love~

Sister Conrow

Here are some friends from home that were on a church history tour and stopped to visit!! It was so great to see my former Young Women's leader while on my mission!!